Flying high: From 'cattle-class' to 'horse-class'

Fresh off the plane – So how did wonder mare Black Caviar travel 17,000 kilometers from Australia to Britain's Royal Ascot?

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Flying high: From 'cattle-class to 'horse-class'9 photos

If the suit fits – By plane, of course. Champion Australian race horse Black Caviar wore a special compression suit during her 30-hour journey from Melbourne to London. No expense was spared for the celebrity mare traveling in a $50,000 first-class airborne stable.

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Flying high: From 'cattle-class to 'horse-class'9 photos

Catch a lift – Each year thousands of race horses are flown across the world to compete in international competitions. It's a major operation, with horses first loaded into stables on the ground before being put onto the plane via a scissor lift.

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Flying high: From 'cattle-class to 'horse-class'9 photos

Horses first – German Olympic gold medal winning equestrian rider Ludger Beerbraum's horse, Goldfever, is cared for by staff at Frankfurt's international airport. The airport boasts one of Europe's largest animal lounges; around the size of a football pitch.

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Flying high: From 'cattle-class to 'horse-class'9 photos

Pony passport – Much like humans, race horses require passports to travel, though instead of a photo they include a silhouette with details of markings, the names of owners, and vaccine records.

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Flying high: From 'cattle-class to 'horse-class'9 photos

Class of their own – Each International Racehorse Transport (IRT) flight includes an on board vet. The stables range from $17,000 for three-horse economy, £30,000 for two-horse buisiness class and $50,000 for a single horse to fly first class.

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Flying high: From 'cattle-class to 'horse-class'9 photos

Olympic effort – IRT flew many of the equestrian horses to London during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. "Do they get jetlag? To be honest, we've got no idea because they can't tell us," said Chris Burke, IRT co-owner.

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Flying high: From 'cattle-class to 'horse-class'9 photos

Ship-shape travel – Long before air travel was the norm, horses were transported by ship. However this came to a halt in 1972 when diseases such as African Horse Sickness and the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis caused both the Suez and Panama Canals to ban horse traffic.

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Flying high: From 'cattle-class to 'horse-class'9 photos

Adventurous Australians – Before Black Caviar stormed Britain's Royal Ascot, that other great Australian champion race horse, Phar Lap, traveled to the U.S. by ship to compete. It would also be the place of his death, after he was found poisoned.

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Story highlights

Ever felt like cattle on an economy flight? You might want a 'horse-class' upgrade

Prized ponies are flown around world in first class stables

Costing up to $50,000, the stables offer round-the-clock handlers

Horse owners increasingly attracted to big international prize money

Once you've battled through the queues, check-in, extortionate on board snacks and cramped seating, it's no wonder so many economy airline passengers complain about flying "cattle-class."

In fact, if the four-legged racing celebrities being flown around the world in luxury are any indication, next time you might want to ask for an upgrade to "horse-class."

Each year thousands of race horses, breeding stallions and beloved pet ponies are flown across the world in plush airborne stables costing up to $50,000.

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"Each air stable can hold three horses. So if you were traveling from Australia to England, three to a stall is the equivalent of economy ($17,500), two to a stall is business class ($30,000), and one horse on its own is first class ($50,000).

There might not be champagne and in-flight films, but pampered ponies flying first class can expect round-the-clock specialists, 40 liters of water, two hay bales and none of the hassle of airplane transfers.

No expense spared

One thoroughbred who stretched out in style was Australian champion Black Caviar, who flew from Melbourne to London's Heathrow airport in June.

Just like humans, airplane passengers of the four-legged variety must also contend with the risk of respiratory infections, dehydration and sleep deprivation.

Then there's the bureaucracy involved -- race horses also need passports and must pass quarantine before entering a new country.

International horse racing circuit

So why are an increasing number of owners and breeders flying their prized pets across the planet at such a massive cost -- and potential risk to their performance?

"It's very tempting from an international prize money point of view," Burke said.

"Hong Kong and Dubai in particular have been pioneers in trying to push an international horse racing circuit. To say 'we're attracting the best race horses from across the world' gets major publicity for their event."

The prestige associated with an internationally recognized race horse can also boost their breeding value after they leave the track.

"We thought we had a world class horse who deserved to perform on a world class stage -- it wasn't about prize money for us," Madden said of the decision to fly Black Caviar to Ascot.

"I think a lot of owners compete their horses internationally out of a mixture of pride, excitement and business acumen."